Kinetic sculpture

ABSTRACT

A three dimensional structure having multiple turns about a longitudinal direction retains an object so that when spun, the object and the structure appear by illusion to be moving relative to the longitudinal direction. The structure is shaped either with varying longitudinal distances between consecutive turns, varying internal latitudinal width dimensions of the individual turns, or both. An object can be retained within the structure by having a dimension of the object greater than an internal latitudinal width of one of the multiple turns of the structure. By having an internal dimension of another one of the multiple turns and/or the longitudinal distance between two consecutive turns being greater than a dimension of the object, the object can be positioned inside of the structure to be retained by the structure even though both the structure and the object are made from non-resilient materials such as metal, glass, stiff plastic, etc.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/465,726, filed Apr. 25, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is directed generally to illusion devicesand, more particularly, to illusion devices involving movement.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] By definition, a helix is a three-dimensional curve that lies ona cylinder (a cylindrical helix) or cone (a conical helix) having alongitudinal axis wherein the angle that the curve makes with respect toa plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder or coneis constant. In other words, it has a constant pitch or distance betweenadjacent loops. Certain helical devices that rotate are conventionallyused for amusement, advertising, or other purposes since they fosterdesirable illusions. Such conventional rotating helical devices includea cylindrical helix device known as the barber-pole, which has helicalstripes painted or otherwise incorporated onto the surface of a cylinderhaving the longitudinal axis of the cylinder oriented vertically. As isknown, a rotating cylindrical helix, such as the barber pole rotatingabout its vertically oriented longitudinal axis, fosters an illusion ofvertical movement of its painted stripes.

[0006] Another conventional illusion device involves a structure shapedas a cylindrical helix such that the structure appears to be a slightlystretched spring, having uniformly spaced and sized turns, even thoughthe structure may be in fact rigid. When an object, such as a ball, ispositioned relative to the structure, such as inside the structure,rotation of the cylindrical helix structure creates an illusion that theobject and the cylindrical helix structure are moving relative to eachother along the vertical longitudinal axis of the cylindrical helixstructure.

[0007] If no dimensions of the object are larger than the insidediameter of the cylindrical helix structure, then in order to positionthe object inside the cylindrical helix structure, the object must besomehow affixed to the cylindrical helix structure with a support suchas a string or translucent rod. If a dimension of the object is largerthan the inside diameter of the cylindrical helix structure, then inorder to position the object inside the cylindrical helix structure, theobject, the cylindrical helix structure or both the object and thecylindrical helix structure need to be resilient rather than rigid inorder to accommodate placement. As an unfortunate consequence of thisrequirement for rigidity, limitations exist for construction of such aconventional illusion device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention resides in a illusion device. Aspectsinclude a member having a plurality of non-cylindrical, helical turnsaround a longitudinal axis, each turn having at least one internallatitudinal width and an object dimensioned according to the internallatitudinal width of one of the turns so that it is supported by themember at the turn. Other aspects include wherein the illusion devicecomprising a base with a rotatable portion, the member affixed to therotatable portion. Other aspects include wherein the object isdimensioned to pass through a least one of the non-cylindrical turns.Other aspects include wherein the object is a sphere. Other aspectsinclude wherein the illusion device comprising a flexible memberconfigured to be coupled to the member and a support to allow the memberto rotate about the longitudinal axis. Other aspects include wherein theflexible member is a string. Other aspects include wherein the member isrigid and the object is rigid. Other aspects include wherein the memberis constructed of metal and the object is constructed of glass.

[0009] Other aspects include a member having a plurality of cylindrical,non-helical turns around a longitudinal axis, each turn having at leastone internal latitudinal width and a object dimensioned according to theinternal latitudinal widths of one of the turns so that it is supportedby the member at the turn. Other aspects include wherein the object isdimensioned to pass through a longitudinal spacing between twoconsecutive of the non-helical turns. Other aspects include wherein themember is rigid and the object is rigid.

[0010] Other aspects include a member having a plurality of non-helical,non-cylindrical turns around a longitudinal axis, each turn having atleast one internal latitudinal width and a object dimensioned accordingto the internal latitudinal widths of one of the turns so that it issupported by the member at the turn.

[0011] Other aspects include a member having a plurality ofnon-cylindrical, helical turns around a longitudinal axis and an objectcoupled to the member. Other aspects include wherein the object iscoupled to the member with rods. Other aspects include wherein theobject is coupled to the member with a flexible member. Other aspectsinclude wherein the flexible member is a string.

[0012] Other aspects include a member having a plurality of non-helical,cylindrical turns around a longitudinal axis and an object coupled tothe member.

[0013] Other aspects include a member having a plurality of non-helical,non-cylindrical turns around a longitudinal axis and an object coupledto the member.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0015]FIG. 1A is an elevational view of a first implementation of anillusion device.

[0016]FIG. 1B is an elevational view of the first implementation of theillusion device rotated 90° from the elevational view of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 1C is an elevational view of the first implementation of theillusion device rotated 90° from the elevational view of FIG. 2.

[0018]FIG. 1D is an elevational view of the first implementation of theillusion device rotated 90° from the elevational view of FIG. 3.

[0019]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a second implementation of theillusion device with a portion of the device having a constant internallatitudinal width and a gradual change in longitudinal spacing of turns.

[0020]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a third implementation of theillusion device with a portion of the device having a constant internallatitudinal width and a more dramatic change in longitudinal spacing ofturns compare with that of the second implementation depicted in FIG. 2.

[0021]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a fourth implementation of theillusion device with a portion of the device having a gradual change ininternal latitudinal width and a constant longitudinal spacing of turns.

[0022]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a fifth implementation of theillusion device with a portion of the device having a more dramaticchange in internal latitudinal width compared with that of the fourthimplementation depicted in FIG. 4 and a constant longitudinal spacing ofturns.

[0023]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a sixth implementation of theillusion device with a portion of the device having a more dramaticchange internal latitudinal width and a gradual change in longitudinalspacing of turns.

[0024]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a seventh implementation of theillusion device with a first portion of the device having a dramaticdecrease in internal latitudinal width and a gradual decrease inlongitudinal spacing of turns and a second portion of the device havinga dramatic increase in internal latitudinal width and a gradual increasein longitudinal spacing of turns.

[0025]FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an eighth implementation of theillusion device holding two objects.

[0026]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a ninth implementation of theillusion device being supported by a base and having a non-spheroidobject.

[0027]FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a tenth implementation of theillusion device having an object supported by a string.

[0028]FIG. 11 is an elevational view of an eleventh implementation ofthe illusion device having an object supported by rods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] As will be discussed in greater detail herein, a threedimensional structure having multiple circular or non-circular turnsabout a longitudinal axis and extending in the longitudinal directionretains one or more objects so that when spun about the longitudinalaxis, the one or more objects and the structure appear, according to anillusion, to be moving relative to the longitudinal axis and/or eachother. The structure is shaped either with varying pitch or longitudinaldistances between consecutive turns (wherein the structure is other thana helix even if it has circular turns), with varying internallatitudinal width, or transverse, dimensions of the individual turns(wherein if the structure has circular turns with some implementationsit may be a conical helix if the longitudinal distances betweenconsecutive turns is constant and in other implementations it is otherthan a helix), or with both varying pitch or longitudinal distancesbetween consecutive turns and varying latitudinal width dimensions ofthe individual turns (wherein the structure is other than a helix evenif it has circular turns). The various shapes of the structure found inthe implementations is different that conventional illusion devicesincluding conventional cylindrical helixes. Consequently, when rotated,the structure and the one or more objects allow for an illusionarypresentation that is also different than the conventional illusiondevices.

[0030] Retention of an object placed within the structure isaccomplished in some implementations by having a dimension of the object(such as the diameter, if the object is a sphere) being greater than aninternal latitudinal width of one of the multiple turns of the structure(such as the internal diameter if one of the multiple turns iscircular). By having an internal dimension of another one of themultiple turns and/or the longitudinal distance between two consecutiveturns being greater than a dimension of the object, the object can bepositioned inside of the structure to be retained by the structure asdescribed even though both the structure and the object are made fromnon-resilient materials such as metal, glass, stiff plastic, etc.

[0031] An implementation of an illusion device 10 is shown in FIG. 1A ashaving a three-dimensional member 12 with a series of turns 14 about alongitudinal axis 16 shown as being generally vertically oriented. Theimplementation of the member 12 is shown as having a suspension portion18 (such as a hook shaped portion as depicted) to which is affixed astring 20, or other flexible member, used in this implementation tosuspend the member for rotation from a relatively stationary (i.e.,sharing the same translational movement, if any, as the member) mass(e.g., a ceiling, a stand, an affixed arm mechanism, an earlobe, or anyother support appropriate for suspension of the member). Otherimplementations are considered that use other ways of suspending themember 12 including those involving swiveling mechanisms, which do notrequire the hook shape of the member, or other ways to allow the memberto be suspended while having freedom of motion to rotate about thelongitudinal axis 16 as shown by rotation arrows 22. Propulsion forrotation of the member 12 includes a simple twisting of the string 20, apropeller or other device coupled to the member to catch air current ora mechanized device such as a motor coupled to the member. Other methodsof propulsion are considered as long as sufficient and sustained forceis imparted to the member 12 to cause rotation of the member for adesired amount of time for an illusion to be observed.

[0032] In the implementation shown in FIG. 1A, the member 12 holds anobject 24 (the object in this implementation being a sphere) at a cradleportion 26 on the member 12. The cradle portion 26 has one or more ofthe turns 14 with internal dimensions sufficiently small relative to oneor more dimensions of the object (the diameter of the sphere in thisimplementation) such that the object is retained by the one or moreturns at the cradle portion. FIGS. 1A-1D show the member 12 holding theobject 24 in four successive 90° rotational positions about thelongitudinal axis 16 as indicated by rotational position indicator 27 inan attempt to portray an illusory quality of the object appearing tomove with respect to the member along the longitudinal axis and eachappearing to move up or down with respect to the longitudinal axis,depending on the direction of rotation and whether the spiral isclockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from above.

[0033] A second implementation of member 12 is depicted in FIG. 2 ashaving progressively smaller pitch or longitudinal spacing, G, betweenturns 14 in a direction descending along the longitudinal axis 16 suchthat the longitudinal spacing G12 between turn 14-1 and turn 14-2 isgreater than the longitudinal spacing G23 between turn 14-2 and turn14-3, and so on. Consequently, the turns 14 of the second implementationcan be described as being non-helical. In this second implementation,the internal latitudinal width, W, for all of the turns 14 of the member12 remains constant. Consequently, the turns 14 of the secondimplementation can be described as being cylindrical as well as beingnon-helical. The turns 14 are depicted in this second implementation asbeing circular so that the internal latitudinal width is the diameter ofthe circular turns less the thickness of the member 12. Here thelongitudinal pitch or spacing G12 between turn 14-1 and turn 14-2 issufficiently large to allow the object 24, being a sphere with adiameter Ds larger than the inner internal latitudinal width, W, to beinserted in the member 12 to be retained by turn 14-2 even though boththe member and the object may be made out of a non-resilient materialsuch as metal, glass, stiff plastic, etc.

[0034] A third implementation of member 12, shown in FIG. 3, is similarto the second implementation, in that the turns 14 are cylindrical andnon-helical, although there exists a more dramatic change in the pitchor longitudinal spacing of the turns 14. Also, in the thirdimplementation, the longitudinal spacing G23 is sufficiently large toallow the object 24 to be retained by turn 14-3, which does not have asubsequent turn 14-4.

[0035] A fourth implementation of member 12 is depicted in FIG. 4 ashaving the longitudinal spacing, G, between each pair of consecutiveturns 14, such as the longitudinal spacing G12 between turns 14-1 and14-2 and the longitudinal spacing G23 between turns 14-2 and 14-3remains constant and smaller than the largest dimension of the object 24(in this case diameter Ds since the depicted object is a sphere).Consequently, the turns 14 of the fourth implementation can be describedas being helical. On the other hand, the member 12 of the fourthimplementation has a progressively smaller internal latitudinal width,W, of the turns 14 in a direction descending along the longitudinal axis16 such that the internal latitudinal width, W1, of turn 14-1 is greaterthan the diameter Ds of the object 24, but the internal latitudinalwidth, W2, of turn 14-2 is smaller than the diameter Ds. Consequently,the object 24 can be inserted into the member 12 and retained by theturn 14-2 of the member even though both the member and the object maybe made out of a non-resilient material such as metal, glass, stiffplastic, etc. Also, the turns 14 of the fourth implementation can bedescribed as being non-cylindrical as well as being helical.

[0036] A fifth implementation of member 12, shown in FIG. 5, is similarto the fourth implementation in that the turns 14 can be described asbeing helical and non-cylindrical although there exists a more dramaticchange in internal latitudinal width of various of the turns.

[0037] A sixth implementation of member 12, shown in FIG. 6, has asimilar non-helical nature of the varying longitudinal spacing of theturns 14 of the second and third implementations and has a similarnon-cylindrical nature of the varying internal latitudinal width of theturns of the second and third implementations. The object 24 generallycan be inserted into the member 12 either where the longitudinal spacingbetween two successive of the turns 14 is larger than the object orwhere one or more of the internal latitudinal widths of the turnsclosest to the suspension portion 18 of the member are larger than theobject. The object 24 will be generally retained on a first one of theturns 14 (in the depicted sixth implementation, turn 14-3) having aninternal latitudinal width smaller than a dimension of the object (inthe depicted sixth implementation, the diameter Ds since the object is asphere) and where the longitudinal spacing between this first turn (inthe depicted sixth implementation, the turn 14-3) and the adjacent turnimmediately above (in the depicted sixth implementation, the turn 14-2)is also smaller than a dimension of the object (in the depicted sixthimplementation, the diameter Ds) as positioned.

[0038] A seventh implementation of the member 12, shown in FIG. 7, has asimilarly non-helical varying longitudinal spacing and similarlynon-cylindrical varying latitudinal width of the turns 14 as the sixthimplementation generally from the suspension portion 18 down at least towhere the object 24 is being held (in this depicted seventhimplementation, the turn 14-3) and down past approximately another oneof the turns (in this depicted seventh implementation, the turn 14-4). Aportion of the member 12 extending further from the turn 14-4 away fromthe suspension portion 18 then progressively increases in bothlongitudinal spacing between the turns 14 and the internal latitudinalwidths of the individual turns for another illusory effect.

[0039] An eighth implementation of the member 12, shown in FIG. 8, hasthe object 24 and a second smaller object 28 that is consequently held aturn farther from the suspension portion 18 to produce another illusoryeffect. This eighth implementation exemplifies a concept that amultitude of objects may be held by various implementations of themember 12 depending upon dimensioning of the objects and the member.

[0040] As mentioned, not all implementations of the member 12 suspendthe member from the suspension portion. Other implementations such asfound in the ninth implementation, shown in FIG. 9, support the member12 from a base 30 having a rotatable portion 32 being affixed generallyto a portion of the member at or near an end of the member opposite thesuspension portion 18. The rotatable portion 32 generally is turned bymechanized devices, such as a motor, spring driven mechanism, or othermeans of propulsion. Also depicted by the ninth implementation, theobject 24 need not be a sphere, but can be of any shape that isdimensioned to allow support by the member 12 or other support asdescribed below.

[0041] In a tenth implementation, shown in FIG. 10, the object 24 hasdimensions of insufficient size to be held directly by the member 12. Inthis tenth implementation, the object 24 is held by a string 34 affixedto and extending downward through the turns 14 from the suspensionportion 18.

[0042] In an eleventh implementation, shown in FIG. 11, the object 24also has dimensions of insufficient size to be held directly by themember 12. In this eleventh implementation, the object 24 is held bytranslucent supports 36 that are affixed directly to the member 12.

[0043] In the above discussion, it has been mentioned that the member 12and the object 24 can both be made of out non-resilient material. On theother hand, one or both of the member 12 and the object 24 can be madeout of resilient material. The novel shapes of implementations of themember 12 contribute to illusionary presentations that are not the sameas those produced by conventional devices, such as conventionalcylindrical helixes. Consequently, the illusion device 10 involves bothunique aspects regarding materials allowable for construction and alsoallows for unique presentations having illusory qualities in addition toaspects regarding types of materials used.

[0044] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An illusion device for rotation, theillusion device comprising: a member having a plurality ofnon-cylindrical, helical turns around a longitudinal axis, each turnhaving at least one internal latitudinal width; and an objectdimensioned according to the internal latitudinal width of one of theturns so that it is supported by the member at the turn.
 2. The illusiondevice of claim 1 wherein the illusion device comprising a base with arotatable portion, the member affixed to the rotatable portion.
 3. Theillusion device of claim 1 wherein the object is dimensioned to passthrough a least one of the non-cylindrical turns.
 4. The illusion deviceof claim 1 wherein the object is a sphere.
 5. The illusion device ofclaim 1 wherein the illusion device comprising a flexible memberconfigured to be coupled to the member and a support to allow the memberto rotate about the longitudinal axis.
 6. The illusion device of claim 5wherein the flexible member is a string.
 7. The illusion device of claim1 wherein the member is rigid and the object is rigid.
 8. The illusiondevice of claim 7 wherein the member is constructed of metal and theobject is constructed of glass.
 9. An illusion device for rotation, theillusion device comprising: a member having a plurality of cylindrical,non-helical turns around a longitudinal axis, each turn having at leastone internal latitudinal width; and a object dimensioned according tothe internal latitudinal widths of one of the turns so that it issupported by the member at the turn.
 10. The illusion device of claim 9wherein the object is dimensioned to pass through a longitudinal spacingbetween two consecutive of the non-helical turns.
 11. The illusiondevice of claim 9 wherein the member is rigid and the object is rigid.12. An illusion device for rotation, the illusion device comprising: amember having a plurality of non-helical, non-cylindrical turns around alongitudinal axis, each turn having at least one internal latitudinalwidth; and a object dimensioned according to the internal latitudinalwidths of one of the turns so that it is supported by the member at theturn.
 13. An illusion device for rotation, the illusion devicecomprising: a member having a plurality of non-cylindrical, helicalturns around a longitudinal axis; and an object coupled to the member.14. The illusion device of claim 13 wherein the object is coupled to themember with rods.
 15. The illusion device of claim 13 wherein the objectis coupled to the member with a flexible member.
 16. The illusion deviceof claim 15 wherein the flexible member is a string.
 17. An illusiondevice for rotation, the illusion device comprising: a member having aplurality of non-helical, cylindrical turns around a longitudinal axis;and an object coupled to the member.
 18. An illusion device forrotation, the illusion device comprising: a member having a plurality ofnon-helical, non-cylindrical turns around a longitudinal axis; and anobject coupled to the member.